England Part 3 : Tower of London & Tower Bridge

Those red double-deckers are pretty impressive but yeah…I would defy anyone to fall asleep on that top level.

In keeping with the theme of ticking off some classic tourist experiences, I was on the bus to get to the Tower of London. For some reason, I thought it would be a lot smaller than it actually is. I also didn’t expect to see incredibly lifelike replicas of wild animals just hanging out at the entrance.

They’re based on the lions that were given to King Henry III from Emperor Frederick II and looked like they were made out of chicken wire. Very impressive…creepily so.

Walking through the Tower, I found this replica of King Henry VIII’s armour. It seems that, in addition to being considered one of the most charismatic kings, good ol’ Henry was a bit of an optimist.

Being the book nerd that I am, I loved seeing the old versions of the tourist guides to the Tower. The creepy and inappro-pro side of my book loving really wanted to smell the books but alas. They were protected behind glass.

There was so much to see and I took a ridiculous amount of photos so instead of including all of them in this post, I’ve combined some of the highlights into a lovely little collage. So if you like big-ass ledgers from the 17th century, really old wall fireplaces, crows, and guns, then consider checking out the Tower of London.

Walking through the Tower of London is one of many instances in England that makes you realise, and appreciate, how important and well-preserved history is in this country. Another shining example of this is Tower Bridge. Constructed from 1886 to 1894, it really is a sight to be seen.

After walking across the bridge and back, I tried to find a somewhat local Sephora. I stupidly trusted an app which repeatedly led me in the completely wrong direction. After about two hours of wandering around, asking people for advice, getting blank looks, and using a few choice words to tell the app how I felt, I gave up and made my way back to the hotel. Before I went back though, I decided to stop off at 221B Baker Street.

Turns out I had timed it very well – the Sherlock Holmes museum and cafe was well and truly closed so I was able to get some good shots without lines of people in the way. On the walk back to the hotel, I found a shop dedicated to items lost on the public transport system of London. Anyone missing an iron?

For my last day in London, I was pretty happy with the things I managed to see and do. After only three days there, I was most definitely a fan of London, with a soft spot for Baker Street Station in particular. But it was time to move on.

Jacquie is a 20-something maker and writer from Melbourne. She enjoys eating virtually anything that is labelled salted caramel and, contrary to popular belief, has forgotten how to ride a bike. She feels ambivalent about writing in the third person but thought it might be fun. It was.

Jacquie

I'm a homebody who loves nothing more than curling up with a blanket, a book, and a cuppa (preferably with some bed socks too). When I eventually leave the house, you'll probably catch me op shopping, tending to my cacti collection, or singing along to the Mary Poppins soundtrack in the car.

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